Vidyadhara was a Chandela king of central India who reigned from around 1003 to 1035 CE. He was the ruler of the Jejakabhukti region (Bundelkhand in present-day Madhya Pradesh). Vidyadhara was Ganda's successor, and he expanded Chandela power between the Chambal River in the northwest and the Narmada River in the south. In this article, we will discuss Vidyadhara-Rulers of Chandela Dynasty which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Vidyadhara - Ascension

• Until the 1970s, the beginning of Vidyadhara's reign was assigned to 1018 CE.
• However, at Kundeshwar, a copper-plate issued by Vidyadhara's queen Satyabhama was discovered.
• This inscription is dated 1004 CE, indicating that Vidyadhara was already ruling at the time.

Vidyadhara - Invasion of Kannauj

• The Ghaznavid king Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Kannauj in 1018 CE, and the city's Pratihara king (possibly Rajyapala) fled, allowing the Ghaznvids to sack it without much resistance.
• According to the 12th century Muslim historian Ali ibn al-Athir, Bida, the king of Khajuraho, as a punishment for this cowardice, the king of Kannauj was killed. Bida is thought to be a variant of "Vidya" (that is, Vidyadhara).
• Later Muslim historians misread this name as "Nanda," which led British-era scholars to identify the Kannauj king's assassin as Vidyadhara's predecessor Ganda.
• However, an inscription discovered at Mahoba confirms that Vidyadhara was the one who defeated Kannauj's ruler.
• According to the Dubkund inscription of Arjuna of the Kachchhapaghata family, Arjuna killed Rajyapala in a great battle.
• Because the Kachchhapaghatas were feudatories of the Chandelas, it appears that Arjuna was acting as Vidyadhara's agent.

Vidyadhara - Struggle Against Ghaznavids

• Vidyadhara may have installed Rajyapala's successor Trilochanapala on the Pratihara throne.
• Mahmud launched a new invasion of India in 1019 CE, defeating the Kabul Shahi ruler Trilochanapala.
• He then made his way to Bari, the new Pratihara capital. Trilochanapala, the Pratihara ruler, fled the town.
• After sacking Bari, Mahmud encountered Vidyadhara's army.
• The two armies were encamped on opposing river banks. Mahmud dispatched an envoy to Vidyadhara (referred to as "Nanda" by Ahmad) to persuade him to accept Islam and Mahmud's suzerainty. Vidyadhara refused to submit a proposal.
• Mahmud became concerned after seeing the Chandela ruler's massive army from a high vantage point.
• However, Vidyadhara withdrew with some of his companions at night, leaving his army behind.
• There was no battle between the two armies, according to this account.
• Following Vidyadhara's departure, Mahmud's army sacked his camp, capturing a large amount of wealth, including 580 elephants.
• According to legend, the Chandela ruler had already abandoned his camp by the time Mahmud's envoy arrived.
• Mahmud invaded the Chandela kingdom once more in 1022 CE, besieging the Gwalior Fort (Gopadri), which was controlled by a Kachchhapaghata feudatory of Vidyadhara. Kirtiraja is identified as this feudatory.
• According to Tabaqat-i-Akbari, Mahmud lifted the siege after four days in exchange for 35 elephants as a tribute. He then besieged the Chandela fortress of Kalanjara.
• After a long siege, the Kalanjara ruler (referred to as "Nanda" in this account) offered Mahmud 300 elephants as a tribute and "begged for safety."
• According to Firishta, the Chandela king intoxicated the elephants and delivered them to Mahmud's camp without riders. Mahmud's Tatar soldiers tamed these wild elephants.
• When the Chandela king saw this bravery, he sent a panegyric praising Mahmud and his army.
• In return, Mahmud complimented the Vidyadhara and presented him with 15 fortresses and other gifts before proceeding to his capital, Ghazna.

Vidyadhara - Conflict with Bhoja

• An inscription of Gwalior Kachchhapaghata king Kirtiraja, a vassal of Chandelas, states that he defeated the Malwa ruler's forces.
• Malwa was ruled at the time by the powerful Paramara king Bhoja. Kirtiraja was unlikely to have defeated him on his own.
• Thus, it is assumed that Kirtiraja received assistance in this campaign from his overlord, Emperor Vidyadhara.
• According to the Chandelas' Mahoba inscription, Bhoja and Kalachuri-Chandra, like terrified students, worshipped Vidhyadhara, a master of warfare.
• Kalachuri-Chandra is related to Kalachuri king Gangeya-deva.
• Vidyadhara defeated the combined forces of Paramara king Bhoja and Kalachuri king Gangeya-deva around 1027.

Vidyadhara - Cultural Contributions

• Vidyadhara oversaw the construction of the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple in Khajuraho.
• Vidhyadhara built the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, dedicated to his family deity Shiva, to commemorate his victory over Mahmud of Ghazni, Bhoja, and other rulers.
• Inscriptions on a pilaster of the temple's mandapa mention the name of the temple's builder as Virimda, which is interpreted as Vidhyadhara's pseudonym. Its construction is dated between 1025 and 1050 AD.

Vidyadhara's Kandariya Mahadeva Temple

Conclusion

The Ghaznavid invasions had weakened the Chandella Kingdom by the end of Vidhyadhara's reign. Taking advantage of this, the Kalachuri king Gangeya-deva conquered the kingdom's eastern parts. Vidhyadhara is best known for commissioning the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple.